Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1887-04-01
THE BOTHER AND SON.
By CLARA MERwIS.

By CLARA sRWI
II was q calm and glorious night in the
month of July 1876, ind the ruins of st.
Anne's Church lay sleeping in the noon
light, whilst the shadows Of many tall trees
fell tilic]lly around it, and, mingling their
gloom with the dark gravc-stones which lay
crumbiine on all sides, impaired an awful
solemnity to the spot. The scene andhour
were SO we'll adapted to silence and medita-
ton. that a stranger might have marveled
wherefore SO many human beings moved
along in its immediate vicinity at this time
of night. A second glance at the spot
would have unraveled to him this apparent
mystery, for within a few yards Of the
ruined church might be seen a we'll, called
after the patron saint of the spot, and
celebrated throughout the country for its
healing virtues.
This was an evening more especially de-
voted to st. Anne; and many votaries were
Fastening towards the we'll, with the hope
of gaining some desired good, or of avert
ing some anticipated evil. Many a weary
hueC WAS OGlltt IAO luiuS Il SOIlOWlu1 uCiAkO
bowed down before hat mystic shrine; and
however unfounded their hopes might be
deemed by the enlightened looker-on, yet
1t would have required an obtuse heart not
to %sympathize with the varied forms Of
suffering which were there beheld at ST.
Annes Well.
One there was among the crowd whose
aspect seemed but little in accordance with
the spirit of the place. Her light, yet
rounded form seemed SO full Of life and
vigor; her firm step was so elastic in its
tread: her face, although not decidedly
handsome, was so attractive from its
expression of chccrfulness and peace that
one marveled to find its Eossessor amongst
the suffering and the sorrowful. What
could she desire to obtain at st. Anne's
Well? Yet ii was evident she was no I'M
interested observer of the ceremonies of
the place. AS she approached the we'll
she drew from beneath her cape a candle,
which, after having lighted, she affixed to
the stem of an aged tree, and hung upon a
bush already laden with votive offerings
:her humble gift. After having knelt a
while in prayer, she rose up, md was leav-
ing the spot in silence, when she heard her
name whispered by a voice whose tones
we're SO familiar to her that she needed no
light TO inform her who was the speaker.
SIS it yourself, Denny?" inquired she,
smiling.
sTtA.,ght the ould woman too bad for
We to la.sve her Tonight"
"She has, sure enough, been very bad
this blessed night; but she just to sleep,
and is lying mighty aisy just now; SO I
slipped out to say a wore to ye, mavour-
a,een, and it's yourself that won't be angry
with me for that same"
sand SO" continued the newcomer, sand
SO you've been at the we'll, Anne? Och!
then it's l that would be thankful for liver
and liver to the Saint, if she'd help us a
little in our throuble; and sure it would be
no such great matter for her to do, seeing
ye're her own namesake."
Hush! husll!" said Anne, III a low and
reverent tone, "remember, Denny, dear,
she is a Saint in Heaven, aud CAM demane
herself to think of all our consarns."
Then why do We come here at all?"
sSure, isn't it my duty?" replied she,
with a look of surprise at her lover.
Denny. like q wise man, attempted no
reply to a question which appeared to him
u~nanswerable; and responding rather to his
own thoughts than to the maiden's query,
said: aTd be as happy as any duke in the
land, if [ could only scrape together $40
for the marriage money; but l can't do it
by any manner of means, if / slave ever
so hard; for the poor old woman is SO bad
that I can't for the life of me neglect her;
and she wants me to save money first for a
.ducent funeral for her, and sure it's she
that's deserving of all J. can do for her, for
isn't she my own mother?"
"Ah, then, yere in the right. my own
Denny, and it's yourself that's always been
the best son in the parish, and God in
heaven will reward .ye for i'll"
"And maybe ye will some day be after
telling me that I'm the best Husband in
the parish" said Denny, in a jocose tone
TO his betrothed.
@ Whether Anne heard his last observation
we cannot presume to determine, for the
lovers having by this time reached her
fathers house, she hastily babe him good
night, saying that her mother would be
wondering what had become of her, as she
ought to have been home a quarter of an
hour earlier.
Denny, on his return home to his
mothers cabin, which was Situated close
to the ruined church of st. Anne, found
nthessold woman sitting up in her bed with
her hands clasped tightly together, whilst
her body was swaying from side to side in
an attitude of distress, and she gave utter
ance in q sort Of measured tone to a low,
melancholy vail.
"What is ailing ye now, mother, dear?"
inquired Denny, seating himself on a
.three-legged stool close to her side.
@1f anything IN earth can be done to